Conference noted::equitation

    We have coyotes in Weare NH, too. They're all over the place in New
    England. I hear them yowling several nights a week while I out doing 
    barn work, and we discovered a den last summer about 2 miles away. 
    Apparently they travel a good radius from their dens. We have never
    had the least bit of trouble with them, and as far as I know neither 
    have our neighbors. My horses are on free access turnout all night
    year round, as are several others in the area.
    
    I wouldnt worry about your horses if I were you, they are far too
    large a target for a coyote to bother with. I've heard it's even
    rare for them to go after dogs larger than themselves. (the ones
    Ive seen on occasion look to weigh about 40 lbs). I do know they
    tend to take rabbits, geese, cats, even sheep on occasion, and
    are particularly fond of chickens. They are not neccessarily 
    nocturnal, either, I spotted glimpses of them in the woods while
    riding in broad daylight. Again, they have never bothered the
    horses in the slightest bit.
    
    There is, I believe, a large topic dedicated to them in Canine,
    too, but I dont know what note it is, perhaps someone else does?
    

    There are a lot of coyotes in my area Hubbardston, ma.  They are a
    major problem for the sheep farmers and most have given up.  Loose dogs
    are just as much or more of a problem though.  One got a trained sheep
    dog and that worked for him (the dog is so vocal and persistant that I
    can hardly get my horse to go past the place).  
    There are many horse owners in the area and none of us have had a
    problem.  The nature of sheep make them very easy pray, whereas horses
    are bigger, faster and defend themselves tooth and hoof.  I might be
    afraid if I had a baby without a mare to protect it but you probably
    don't have anything to worry about.  There are plenty of horses in your
    area, you might ask them or your vet if there's been any problem.
    
    Sharon

    There is (at least one) pair of coyotes that circles through Townsend. 
    I farm sat for a friend there some 10 years ago.  Was awakened one am
    by the sound of chickens squawking.  When I went down to check things
    out, the hens were scattered and in hiding.  Couldn't find the rooster
    that morning.  That afternoon, I found a pile of feathers a little ways
    from the barn....

    Saw one lying in the road on the expressway on the way into Boston
    last week.  They are a lot closer than you might think.  We have
    had sightings in my area, (Middleboro, MA) but I have not personally
    seen any.....
    
    

    Come to think of it, I may have seen one on two occasions.  The first
    10 or so years back when I boarded my last horse in Littleton.  I was
    out on the trail behind the barns and I heard a very quiet rustling in
    the leaves -- a grey-brown wolfish looking critter streaked across the
    trail -- and vanished with more little leave rustles.  Very dreamish
    experience, it was so quiet and quick.  The second time was 1 or 2
    years ago, on my way to the barn in Harvard.  It was dusk, and the
    critter was standing at the end of someone's driveway!  Again,
    grey-brown with that slender, leggy wolfish look.
    
    Mary

For those who are having a real problem with coyotes,
like sheep owners, they have found a great solution out
west -- guard llamas!

That's right, it seems that llamas are not at all afraid
of coyotes and are very protective of "their" sheep and
will drive off/kill any coyotes that get into the 
pasture.  In general llamas are gentle peaceable animals
so I find it hard to picture, but the magazine articles
report that it is a great solution.

Just a suggestion...


Jan

Louisa,

The pack that attacked the animals on your farm may have been relatives of a 
small pack that lives at Chedco. When we lived there, I used to hear them
"yipping" out in the orchard behind the house. My ponies lived there for three 
years without incident.

The people on the farm across the street from us raise veal calves (they
obviously don't raise them for long but...). I have heard the coyotes right 
behind their fields too. You may want to ask them if they have had trouble
with them, or if they have had to shoot any of them.

Good Luck, From the looks of it, based on one of the replies to this note,
moving to Hubbardston didn't  not move me far away from the coyotes :-)

	JoAnne

    
    Jan-
    
    A mad llama is a thing to behold!  They can give
    a nasty bite and a kick can kill!  They can and do
    spit when aggravated, but it takes a bit to get a
    llama angry! (8

I guess I've never seen an angry llama and having been
kicked twice on Sunday while grooming one of mine, I'm
having a hard time believing their kicks can be deadly.
I didn't even get a bruise or anything on my hand.

However, I have been told that a beserk male can in fact
kill a person so it must be possible for them to do a lot
of damage.  Since they can't really bite (no top teeth
in the front, once you remove the fighting teeth) I guess
it would have to be through kicking and hitting with the
body.

I'll be thinking of this the next time I'm trying to get
them to do something they don't want to do!  But I know
they won't "attack" beccause they are well-trained and
properly raised by their breeders, no beserk males in my
barn...


Jan

    The farmers out in my area (Berkshire hilltowns) have gone to guard
    MULES for their sheep.  The mules take no guff from the coyotes, or, as
    one noter correctly noted, domestic dogs.  The coyotes have never
    bothered the horses in my area, mules or no mules.  
    
    Dana

    Come to think of it, a former Deccie in my group had sheep and was
    able to keep out the coyotes by using electric fencing, low to the
    ground and high enough they couldn't jump over. Id imagine you'd need
    a fairly high voltage to deter a determined (and thick furred) coyote,
    though.
    

�                      <<< Note 1715.0 by STOWOA::PIERCE >>>
�                          -< COYOTEs: In Berlin, MA >-

Coyotes are fairly adaptable animals.  Populated areas tend to not concern 
them.

They are also fairly opportunist when searching for prey.  This is
frequently why animals such as chickens, geese, or sheep are their victims.
A horse, unless very young, very old, or injured, isn't high on a coyote's
interest list for food (unless the coyotes are *very* hungry and
desperate).  I would be much more concerned about a young child around a
coyote than I would a horse.  If you do have cats, lock them up indoors, 
particularily at night.  I've heard of many people having cats disappear 
while living in coyote country.

I generally consider coyotes of a beneficial nature.  They can be very
useful for rodent control (mice, rats, rabbits).  While these rodents may
be nice and cute, you may not want them in your house or barn or eating your
summer vegetable garden.   

Before you start a personal extermination program, check for local and 
state laws pertaining to this.  It may not be pleasant to have the 
neighbors call local law enforcement on you and you finding out then they 
are illegal to hunt or that you need a license.  Here in Colorado you need 
a license and be in an area where discharging firearms is legal.

Your state Fish and Game or Department of Wildlife (whatever MA's state 
game control organization is called) and University extension offices can 
help you with understanding coyotes and suggestions for deterring them.

    Just one more point to consider is that coyotes are also rabies
    carriers. I understand that rabies is present in the coyote population
    in Maine so it won't take too long before it's here in the Greater
    Maynard Area.

    >  <<< Note 1715.13 by A1VAX::GUNN "I couldn't possibly comment" >>>
    
    >I understand that rabies is present in the coyote population
    >in Maine so it won't take too long before it's here in the Greater
    >Maynard Area.
    
    You can't blame that on coyotes! First of all, ANY mammal (including
    humans) can carry rabies. Skunks, raccoons and foxes have been a source 
    for rabies in New England for generations. Why worry about 1 more
    carrier species? 
    
    Secondly, rabies is already there. You don't need to wait for it to be 
    imported! There were outbreaks of rabies in MA and NH last summer.  
    
    Don't worry about it. Just keep your horses, dogs, cats, etc vaccinated
    for rabies. You'll sleep better.

    WE HAVE THEM IN SOUTHBORO TOO.....SO FAR THEY ARE STAYING AWAY FROM 
    THE LIVESTOCK. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY ATTACKS IN TOWN. BUT I ALSO 
    HAVE ALOT OF WOODS AROUND ME AND THEY CAN HUNT MORE FREELY THERE.
    
    TERRY

    Never had a problem with coyotes and we certainly have them...we've had 
    more trouble with dogs running in packs killing our chickens, geese
    etc.  
    
    I have also seen a coyote when out riding....I love looking a them, but
    then again, I've never been bothered by one.  
    
    As far as shooting them, there is a hunting season and I know you can
    kill a dog if it is killing your livestock, so I assume if you can kill
    a "pet" it would the same for a coyote who was killing livestock.
    
    Caryl

    
    I agree with the noter who suggested contacting the Fish and Wildlife
    authorities in your area and ask for their input.  The coyotes (or
    possibly coydogs) are no doubt having a difficult time finding their
    wild game and will turn to easier, domestic livestock such as geese,
    chickens, rabbits, cats, and even small dogs.  Out west coyotes have
    been known to jump fences into yards and take small dogs when their
    natural prey was scarce.
    
    If the animal(s) you are seeing seem "bold" it could be they are
    coydogs, from the breeding of coyotes and dogs.  Coydogs have been seen
    in Canaan and Londonderry, NH and no doubt elsewhere in NH.  One was
    seen running down a dirt roadway carrying a dead cat in it's mouth in
    Londonderry a few years back by a friend.  I'm glad my cats are indoors
    only, then and now.
    

    There is no such thing as a coydog says the NH fish and Game people in
    Concord.  I called and they told me that wolves and coyoties mate for
    life (only come into heat once a year) and both parents raise young. 
    Unlike dogs who come into heat at anytime of year and only the females
    raise the young.
    
    Fish and game said these breeding differences perclude any
    interbreeding except by rare accident.  The term coydog refers mostly
    to wild dogs packs only.